Charles k prouty



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. PROUTY, OF SPENCER, MASSACHUSETTS( BOOT.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,7 65, dated February 9, 1897.

Application filed July 1 3, 1 8 9 6.

T0 LZZ whom may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. PROUTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spencer, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Boots, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of boots and shoes by providing means for preventing the sole of the boot or shoe from slipping.

To these ends my invention consists of the parts and combination of parts as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a boot constructed according to myinvention, partly broken away to show the construction; and Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of an outsole constructed according to my invention.

Myinvention relates especially to that class of boots which comprise felt body portions which fit inside of suitable overshoes. In making up this class 'of goods it has ordinarily been the custom to employ rubberovershoes. The use of rubber overshoesin connection With boots of this character is objectionable, as rubber is expensive and will not allow for ventilation.

The use of leather outer coverings or overshoes in connection with felt boots or body portions has heretofore been rendered impracticable, as boot-s of this character are designed to be used as a protection against ice and snow, and in practice it'has been found that an ordinary leather sole is so slippery as to be totally unfit for use in this connection.

The specific obj ect of my invention is therefore to provide a leather overshoe for use in connection with felt boots or body portions with lmeans for preventing the sole thereof from slipping.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A designates a felt body portion or boot of the ordinary construction. The leather overshoe or protector B which I employ comprises an upper 10, which may be clasped or fastened around over the instep of the shoe by means of a suitable strap, as 1l. The sole of the overshoe or protector B comprises a comparatively heavyT imperforate insole 12, an inter- Serial No. 598,927. (No model.)

mediate or sliver sole 13, and an outsole 14. The outsole 14 is formed of leather in the ordinary manner and has threads worked therein, so as to project from the bottom of the sole in such a manner as to form a surface which will prevent slipping. As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, the thread 15, Which is Worked or .sewed into the outsole 14, may be of linen,

shoe is partly worn ont and the ribs 1b' worn down I have found in practice that the ends of the threads will still project through the bottom of the sole and still form a roughened or non-slippingI surface. At the same time a shoe constructed according to my invention may be kept substantially tight, as the stitches which form the non-slipping surface extend through the outsole only and do not then pass into the inside of the shoe.

I am aware of patent to McKay, No. 35,105, granted April 29, 1862, and the patent to King et al., No. 377,431, granted February 7, 1888, and disclaim all that is shown therein. My boot, however, differs from the construction shown in said patents, as the non-slipping surface of my shoe is formed by stitches or threads which 'are worked into the outsole only, and my shoe is rendered substantially water-tight by means of an imperforate sliver or intermediate sole and an insole, both of which are permanently secured in place, whereas the soles of the shoes shown in vsaid patents are stitched or sewed together so that the stitches extend to the inside of the shoe.

l do not wish to be limited to the exact forms and proportions which have been shown and described; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a boot or shoe, the combination of an upper, imperforate intermediate and in soles IOO 1o outsole having threads sewed therethrough to forni ribs on the under surface of the sole for preventing slipping, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand in the presence of two subscribing' 15 Witnesses.

CHARLES N. PROUTY. XVitn esses:

LoUrs W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

